The Shield of Faith

43 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man…44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ …45 He takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. (Mt. 12:43-45)

This is a very intense and misunderstood verse. Just because you have repented, or been delivered doesn’t mean the war is over. The war is won by many battles and a vigilant spirit. Demons do attack those who have been set free. They return over and over seeking to allure people to return to their former lifestyle. If possible they bring more demons with them (v. 44). Renewing one’s mind with the Word and Spirit fights against this. Declaring repentance and commanding them to go helps to. Praying in tongues daily can war against the enemy’s attacks quite well.

Our problems are often the result of several factors working together including psychological issues (our mindset, belief systems, and life choices), physiological issues (diet, alcohol, chemical, etc.), sociological issues (what others do to us), and spiritual (demonic attack).

By using our authority, we can remove the added pressure that demons bring to our problems. This makes it much easier to solve physiological, psychological, and sociological problems. However exercising authority against Satan’s attack does not automatically cancel all the consequences of our wrong choices or all the effects of what others do to us, as they exercise their free will.

We must stand for all the ground we take from the enemy. He will come to take it back by lies.Once a person is delivered, they must learn to stand against the devil for themselves. By not taking new ground getting more of the Spirit and Word, we can lose the ground we already had.

Each believer must be taught to receive healing and freedom and then to keep in it by personally standing on the Word. Speaking the Word of God is our weapon and protection against demons. The shield of faith in reality is the consistent confident declaration of the Word against the enemy’s attack.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers…in the heavenly places. 13 Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand…having girded your waist with truth…16 taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one…17 Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God… (Eph. 6:11-17)

The demonstration of the Spirit follows a declaration of a believer. The Spirit moves as the Word (Scripture) is spoken. We resist oppression by rebuking it in Jesus’ name. “I rebuke depression in the name of Jesus now,” etc.

The primary way Satan tries to gain access to people is through their mind and body. The degree to which one yields to Satan in these areas determines how much Satan is able to influence him.

Each person has three parts: We are a spirit, we have a soul and live in a body. Demons can influence or oppress a Christian’s body and soul (mind and emotions) without possessing their spirit. There are degrees of oppression. A bad mood or emotional funk can be the direct result of flaming missiles of demonic oppression.